View-finder for single lens reflex cameras

ABSTRACT

Viewfinder system, for single-lens reflex cameras, which permits viewing both at eye level, and waist or chest level, and comprises a pentagonal roof-type reflecting mirror assembly (similar in function to the conventional penta-prism), whose second reflecting mirror or surface is pivotally mounted, so that it may be switched between two positions. This second reflecting surface, which may be pivoted about its center or an edge, in one position redirects the beam of light from the camera lens system toward an eye-level finder lens while in the other position it redirects the beam toward a waist or chest-level finder lens.

United States Patent Hi'ruma [54] VIEW-FINDER FOR SINGLE LENS REFLEX CAMERAS [72] Inventor: Kenji l-liruma, Tokyo, Japan [73] Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan [22] Filed: July 20, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 56,511

1,002,614 2/1957 Germany ..95/42 [451 Mar. 28, 1972 237,554 12/1964 Austria ..95/42 Primary Examiner-Ronald L. Wibert Assistant Examiner-+1 L. Evans Attorney-Henry T. Burke, Robert S. Dunham, P. E. Henninger, Lester W. Clark, Gerald W. Griffin, Thomas P. Moran, Howard J. Churchill, R. Bradlee Boal, Christopher C. Dunham and Thomas P. Dowd [57] ABSTRACT Viewfinder system, for single-lens reflex cameras, which permits viewing both at eye level, and waist or chest level, and comprises a pentagonal roof-type reflecting mirror assembly (similar in function to the conventional penta-prism), whose second reflecting mirror or surface is pivotally mounted, so that it may be switched between two positions. This second reflecting surface, which may be pivoted about its center or an edge, in one position redirects the beam of light from the camera lens system toward an eye-level finder lens while in the other position it redirects the beam toward a waist or chestlevel finder lens.

3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAR28 I972- FEG. E

INVENTOR fi/RUMA KEA/J/ ATTORNEY one position to another,

1 VIEW-FINDER FOR SINGLE LENS REFLEX CAMERAS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a pentagonal roof type reflecting mirror assembly having two reflecting mirrors or surfaces (as in a conventional penta-prism, thus producing a 90 deviation of an entering beam of light); the second reflecting mirror or surface of which is pivotally mounted so that the beam of light redirected toward it by the first reflecting mirror or surface may be selectively redirected toward an eye-level viewfinder lens system or toward a waist or chest-level viewfinder lens system. Thus, the pivotally hinged second reflecting mirror or surface may be simply and quickly switched from so that the camera may be immediately used at eye-level or waist or chest-level without the need for incorporated in a simple manner.

The above and and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments tion with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS which is located at the lower side edge of the wall lb. An eyelevel viewfinder lens system 3 is disposed adjacent to the exit of the pentagonal roof-type reflecting-mirror assembly 1. A

condenser lens 4 and a ground glass 5 are disposed immediately below the entrance 1d, and a movable or deviating mirror 6 of conventional construction is disposed below the ground glass 5.

Now, when the second reflecting mirror lb is in the position indicated by the solid lines in FIG. 1, that is, in the eye-level position, the beam of light 11, entering through the image focusing lens system 7 of the camera, is redirected by the movable mirror 6 and the first and second reflecting mirrors la and lb toward the eye-level viewfinder lens system 3 as indicated by the arrows. This is substantially similar to the a conventional penta-prism viewfinder. However, when the reflecting mirror lb or wall lb is rotated in the counterclockwise direction to the position lines in FIG. 1, the beam of light 11, reflected by the first the reflecting mirror lb between the two positions by suitable means, such as a simple lever 12 connected to the shaft 2, can immediately switch the lens assembly 1 from operation as waist or chest-level viewfinder and vice versa.

FIG. 2 shows an alternate embodiment of the present invention in which the second reflecting mirror lb" or the wall lb' is pivotally mounted at its mid-portion on a shaft 2'. This arrangement provides the advantage that the extension of the top of the second reflecting mirror lb", at the waist or chestlevel viewing position, into the front of the camera 10 may be reduced as compared with the first embodiment (FIG. I), so that the overall viewfinder optical system may be designed mirror lb" may pass through and reach the waist or chestlevel viewfinder lens system 8. The viewfinder of the latter embodiment may of course, also be readily switched and used for eye-level and waist or chest-level viewing.

What is claimed is:

l. In a single lens reflex camera of the type which can be used at eye level and waist or chest level and comprising an objective lens system and pentagonal roof-type reflecting-mirror assembly of the type having:

a. a first reflecting surface;

b. a second reflecting surface positioned to receive light reflected from said first reflecting surface;

c. a light entrance disposed opposite said first reflecting surface and two light exits,

d. an eye-level finder lens system disposed adjacent to one of said light exits and in opposed relation with said second reflecting surface,

e. a waist or chest-level finder lens system disposed adjacent to the other of said light exits and upwardly of said second reflecting surface wherein the improvement comprises:

f. hinge means for mounting said second reflecting surface for switching between two positions; and

g. means for switching said second reflecting surface between said two positions, whereby, when said second reflecting surface is in one of said two positions, beams of light from said first reflecting surface are reflected toward said eye-level finder lens system by said second reflecting surface while, when said second reflecting surface is in the other of said two positions, said beams are reflected toward said waist or chest-level finder lens system by said second reflecting surface.

2. A viewfinder as in claim 1, wherein said second reflecting surface is rotatably hinged at its midportion; and comprising an eye-level viewfinder to a b. a wall between said first and second reflecting surfaces of said pentagonal roof-type reflecting mirror assembly having an opening for passing the beams reflected by said second reflecting surface toward said waist or chest-level finder lens system. 5

3. A viewfinder as in claim 1, wherein said second reflecting surface is rotatably hinged at its lower edge. 

1. In a single lens reflex camera of the type which can be used at eye level and waist or chest level and compRising an objective lens system and pentagonal roof-type reflecting-mirror assembly of the type having: a. a first reflecting surface; b. a second reflecting surface positioned to receive light reflected from said first reflecting surface; c. a light entrance disposed opposite said first reflecting surface and two light exits, d. an eye-level finder lens system disposed adjacent to one of said light exits and in opposed relation with said second reflecting surface, e. a waist or chest-level finder lens system disposed adjacent to the other of said light exits and upwardly of said second reflecting surface wherein the improvement comprises: f. hinge means for mounting said second reflecting surface for switching between two positions; and g. means for switching said second reflecting surface between said two positions, whereby, when said second reflecting surface is in one of said two positions, beams of light from said first reflecting surface are reflected toward said eyelevel finder lens system by said second reflecting surface while, when said second reflecting surface is in the other of said two positions, said beams are reflected toward said waist or chest-level finder lens system by said second reflecting surface.
 2. A viewfinder as in claim 1, wherein a. said second reflecting surface is rotatably hinged at its midportion; and comprising b. a wall between said first and second reflecting surfaces of said pentagonal roof-type reflecting mirror assembly having an opening for passing the beams reflected by said second reflecting surface toward said waist or chest-level finder lens system.
 3. A viewfinder as in claim 1, wherein said second reflecting surface is rotatably hinged at its lower edge. 